Introduction
Those who do not know history do not deserve future. It is really so as people who are not interested in the past of their country are not interested in the future as well. History is knowledge that people handle from one generation to the other. The book Colonial North America and the Atlantic World: A History in Documents by Brett Rushforth and Paul Mapp is a collection of documents which describe the history of the region. Taking the Columbus Reaches the New World and William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox chapters, it is possible to dwell upon them pointing out the similarities in the events; it is also possible to discuss the other historical processes that took place in the time of the documents creation.
The Main Idea of the Chosen Documents
Taking the Columbus Reaches the New World document from the mentioned book, it is possible to say that this chapter discloses the historical facts on the situation when Columbus experienced his round world voyages and reached the New World for the first time. Columbus traveled a lot, sill reading the document on the description of reaching the new world, it becomes understandable the words by Paul S. Boyer, “Whether travelling to new lands or experiencing the transformation of familiar homelands, they entered ‘new worlds’ in which their customary ways of thinking and acting were repeatedly challenged” (Boyer 24). The main idea of the presented document is to explain the contribution which Columbus made to the European colonization of the New World. Moreover, the document shows the impression a new land made on the traveler and what new information was considered out of it (Rushforth and Mapp 23).
Turning to the other document that is presented in the book, William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox, it is significant to mention that it were Europeans who started their expansion to New England and brought a number of different disasters to it. Colonists came with their customs and traditions and tried to implement them in the new society. All was done with ruining power, fire and streams of blood. The colonists brought a lot of different diseases, such as measles, diphtheria, tuberculosis and new outbreaks of smallpox which was discussed in detail by William Bradford (Boyer 68). Being the governor of the Plymouth colony in Massachusetts, William Bradford wrote that he had never seen something more disgusting and frightening than that smallpox outbreak. The document shows the epidemic from the point of view of the participant who saw that horror and could do nothing, even being the governor, the most powerful person in the region (Rushforth and Mapp 30).
The Similarities in Topics from Different Perspectives
These two documents describe different situations which took place in different times (there are about two hundred years among these events). Still, comparing these two events it should be mentioned that there as great many of similarities between these events than between any others. First of all, these events dwell upon the same region, so, coming out of it, the same people are discussed. Second, the main idea of both these documents is that the discussed region was influenced by invaders.
To be specific, it is possible to mention that William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox dwells upon the colonists’ influence on people’s health and bringing the outbreak of smallpox, a disease that has never existed in the region (Rushforth and Mapp 30). The Columbus Reaches the New World document is also the reminding of how Europeans entered the New World. Moreover, the time of when the New World was opened is considered to be the start of invasion campaign, which was the beginning of the colonization processes (Rushforth and Mapp 24).
In fact, the main common feature of both these documents is that they discuss the intrusion of Europeans in North America. To the point, there was nothing positive in these events, as for many years the New World appeared to be colonized. Moreover, Europeans brought in the colonized society their traditions and tried to eradicate the traditions of native inhabitants. Moreover, the European invasion brought many disasters and negative changes which may never be justified.
Historical Processes that Took Place in North America While the Documents Appearance
Discussing the events that occurred in North America in during the creation of these two documents, it is necessary to mention that Columbus Reaches the New World and William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox documents have about two hundred years break in their occurrence. Columbus opened the New World in 1492, when the world was not researched till the end and most continents were not explored. Moreover, these years are considered to be the years of the biggest discoveries that shocked the world society. Researching the New World, Columbus did not know that his discoveries will lead to some disasters, one of which is described in the next document under consideration, William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox.
The outbreak of smallpox took place in 1634 when the colonization process was one of the main in the discussed period. Moreover, it is impossible to call the period peaceful as the wars were the main focus of attention of both the New World and the Old World. In fact, the inhabitants of New World tried to protect their territories from the Old World invasion. The smallpox epidemic was possible only because of the Europeans’ intrusion in the life of simple people, native North Americans who led normal life before the process of colonization.
So, it may be concluded that the main connection of these two events is that the second one would never occur without the first one. That is, the New World would never suffer from the smallpox epidemic if Columbus did not open the New World. Much time is not the reason to avoid the main cause of the disaster.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Columbus Reaches the New World and William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox documents are the reminders of European invasion of the New World. Moreover, these documents point out the facts that may never be named positive for the New World and it is impossible to justify the actions made by colonists. These documents give proofs that the discussed regions was under the influence of Europe in different aspects. Describing different events that took place in different times, these two documents dwell upon the same problems that waited for people of the New World, the colonial politics and great influence on life of people. Moreover, Columbus Reaches the New World and William Bradford Describes an Outbreak of Smallpox documents show that the history may be followed not only via events but also via people and their vision of the events, such as Columbus and William Bradford.
Works Cited
Boyer, Paul S. The enduring vision: a history of the American people. London: Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
Rushforth, Brett and Paul Mapp. Colonial North America and the Atlantic World: A History in Documents. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.